| It is one of the enduring debates in the voice over | | | | mouth can work wonders and this will certainly make |
| industry; should you undertake voice coaching to | | | | a good voice sound even better. |
| improve your performance? | | | | There are a lot of misconceptions about the role of |
| A clear crisp voice sounds the most desirable of | | | | elocution and voice coaching. It is not to change the |
| assets when it comes to doing a voice over. | | | | way you sound per se, but to enhance what you |
| However this is not necessarily the case. | | | | already have. The idea that you will speak with a |
| Broadcasters in the UK have for some years been | | | | 'plum in your mouth' is old fashioned and not what |
| experimenting with a more relaxed delivery. This is | | | | good voice coaching is about. These days elocution is |
| especially the case with radio and TV channels aimed | | | | concerned with improving the way you sound by |
| at a younger audience. | | | | keeping the essence of you, but subtly altering |
| I bet you have listened to an announcer or voice | | | | facets of your word formation and delivery. |
| over artist and thought to yourself "that is a sloppy | | | | In other words a professional voice coach will bring |
| way of speaking" or "I could do better myself!"; of | | | | out the best in your voice. |
| course you probably could, but the point is the client | | | | True, you may want to soften a strong regional or |
| (i.e. the person paying the voice over artist good | | | | national accent, but you should not remove it |
| money) might want a more relaxed, conversational | | | | altogether; it is an important part of who you are. |
| style. | | | | Your aim is to sound clear and confident, but not |
| That said there is still a role for 'proper' sounding | | | | over-bearing or like the people in 1930s movies. |
| voices where the words are minted with precision | | | | The most important aspect about voice coaching and |
| and clarity. This is often the case with corporate | | | | elocution is that it will increase your confidence when |
| videos, audio-book narration and on hold phone | | | | it comes to reading out loud and that is an essential |
| messaging or IVR (interactive voice recording) as it is | | | | ingredient for recording your demo or showreel. |
| sometimes known. | | | | So the choice is yours: if you feel confident enough |
| In this case even the best of us might want to brush | | | | to go into the studio and record your voice reel, then |
| up on our spoken words. A couple of hours with a | | | | go for it. If, however, you are uncertain what might |
| good voice coach can add sparkle, definition and | | | | come out of your mouth, then perhaps it is time to |
| confidence to your voice. Learning tricks and | | | | seek the services of a professional voice coach or |
| techniques for forming vowels and consonants in the | | | | elocution expert. |
